Robert Holder to Football 'Cats: Congrats on a great season from a friend

I have to admit I found myself wanting to cheer for Oak Ridge on Friday night. This isn't something that should be muttered by a unbiased journalist. It goes against our code of conduct so to speak.

Comment

By Robert Holder

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Robert Holder

Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 6:25 PM

By Robert Holder

Posted Nov. 16, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Updated Nov 16, 2012 at 6:25 PM

I have to admit I found myself wanting to cheer for Oak Ridge on Friday night. This isn't something that should be muttered by a unbiased journalist. It goes against our code of conduct so to speak.

However, I still almost did it. Not because of it being a great game, which it was, or wanting to see Maryville lose. I wanted to cheer for the seniors who were giving their all. Every time I looked up from my notes, I was seeing a senior make a big play.

I saw Zak Clark keeping stride-for-stride with Maryville's Shawn Prevo on a passing route and chasing him down. I watched as Ethan Grumski got frustrated and angry time and time again as he tried to get around an offensive tackle before he finally got to quarterback Nick Myers. I saw Elliott Normand put the ball away to give his team an early lead. I saw Darius Patterson being a vocal leader.

That doesn't even get to the offense. Rian Hall could've folded, but as he put it last week, he "wasn't going to be denied." Undersized Matt Moore kept running into that black wall of Maryville's defensive line time after time. The Wildcats offensive line, led by Zak Clark, Cam Clark, Chris Ramsey and others, showed major resolve in holding them back.

Even Brett Beeler made a huge field goal to pull closer in the second quarter.

Not only is this the first group of seniors who took to coach Scott Blade's style of play, they are a group who took me in as a sportswriter as well. I'd like to think they would call me their friend, and I would certainly call them all my friends.

Twenty-three friends that I have had the privilege of covering the last three years. Twenty-three players who went 35-15 in the last four years, including 6-4 in the playoffs and won the first District 3-AAA title at Oak Ridge since 2005.